Above is a selection of watercolor palettes that vary in size and cost.

I like the covered palettes as it provides a mixing palette too

or white plates from Goodwill or garage sales but they are heavier to transport.

White palette or plate is best for seeing the color of paint.

Watercolor paint: Student grade watercolor paint is acceptable:

Shop around and find a selection of paint and brushes that work for you.

These are suggestions of colors I would choose for a traveling paint kit. Painters, select from your personal preferences( * indicates a recommendation)

Gamboge Hue

Naples Yellow

Cadmium Yellow *

Cadmium Orange

Cadmium Red *

Rose Madder

Cobalt Blue *

Cobalt Teal Blue

Cerulean Blue

Cobalt violet

Hookers Green light *

Sap Green

Raw Umber *

Raw Sienna

Chinese white *

Ivory Black *

Brushes:

A variety of sizes are helpful both for detail and broader strokes. Purchase according to your budget and prospective longer-term use.

One student liked using one brush for everything a Robert Simmons Goliath brush and that worked well for her http://www.dickblick.com/items/05801-9036/

Basically it’s good to have a small medium and large brush. Look over what you have and shop locally or online. One can buy a package of several brushes at a reasonable price. Shop according to your budget. Most anything will work for your needs. You might even want to apply paint with a branch.

Other watercolor paper may be used, these are only suggestions. If the paper you choose is very light-weight, it means needing to tape the paper to a board. If paper is light-weight, tape is needed along with a board several inches around larger than the size of your paper.

The benefit of working from the watercolor block is that the paper is fixed and doesn’t curl with water soaking the surface. This small watercolor block is recommended.